Community News Focus

Colleges

Orange Coast College has received a $100,000 gift from the Weingart Foundation for construction of a children's center on campus. About $1.5 million has already been raised for the $2-million center. Groundbreaking is planned for next fall. The center is expected to open in fall 1996.

The new building will supplement an existing children's center that opened in 1971 and provides low-cost child care and services to about 180 children whose parents are enrolled at Orange Coast College. The center serves children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years during fall and spring semesters. During the summer, the center offers programs to children ages 6 to 11.

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IRVINE

UCI Research Funds Total $107 Million

Research funding totaled $107 million at UC Irvine, the third consecutive year that such funding has exceeded $100 million.

Contracts and grants from federal and private agencies were 3.2% higher than the previous year.

One-quarter of the donations came from private foundations and corporations. Most of UCI's research funding came from $74 million in federal contracts and grants. State grants were 78% lower than the year before, totaling about $2 million.

The College of Medicine received $49.8 million, the largest share of the funding.

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ORANGE

Chapman's Historic Buildings Noted

Plaques were recently installed on five Chapman University buildings, identifying their listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The buildings, constructed between 1904 and 1928, are considered to be one of the largest concentrations of historic buildings in the county, according to college officials.

The exteriors of all five buildings--Wilkinson Hall, Memorial Hall, Smith Hall, Reeves Hall and Founders Hall--are mostly unchanged from their original appearance. Wilkinson Hall, the group's oldest building, was built in 1904.

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IRVINE

elecommuting Test Volunteers Sought

Irvine Valley College is seeking students and employers for an experiment in telecommuting.

College officials are considering the creation of a telecommuting center in Irvine to provide an alternative to long commutes for students and area residents.

Participants would be required to use the telecommuting center at least one day a week. College officials say employers in the computer, utility and financial industries often allow employees to work via computer from a remote location.